How to Put Up a Soft Pool

Select a flat site for the pool, away from trees and power lines and near an electrical outlet.

Remove the grass and any roots or rocks in a circle 3 feet wider than the base of the pool, using a shovel. Rake the site smooth.

Lay an 8-foot 1-by-2 board across the site and set a level on top. If the site is not even, remove the soil on the high side until the level shows that the site is perfectly horizontal.

Add 1 inch of sand to the site, raking smooth and again checking with the level to ensure the site is flat and horizontal.

Arrange a ground sheet over the ground, centering it over the pool site. Lay the pool over the ground sheet, again centering it on the space.

Arrange four pavers at least 4 feet from the pool and convenient to the electrical outlet. Set the pool pump and filter on the pavers and extend the hoses to the pool. Rotate the pool if necessary to ensure the hoses reach the intake and return outlets.

Pump up the air ring until it is shaped like a circle with no wrinkles. Close the air valve. Place the ladder so the legs span the side of the pool.

Attach the pool's intake hose to the top outlet and to the pump according to the manufacturer's instructions. The return hose is attached to the lower outlet and to the filter. There is a short hose that connects the filter to the pump. However, depending on the manufacturer, some pumps and filters are all-in-one units, and the short connecting hose is unnecessary.

Place a garden hose in the pool and fill with 1 inch of water. Tug the sides and bottom gently to remove any wrinkles on the bottom of the pool. Move the pool ladder if necessary to keep the bottom wrinkle-free. Once the pool is level, fill it with water.

Add pool chemicals according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Plug the pump into a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protected outlet. Run the pump for two hours every morning, afternoon and evening.